In July 2018, Abhimanyu Easwaran made his debut for India A. Despite being in five Test teams, including the one in England earlier this year, he has yet to receive the Test cap despite playing 30 first-class matches for India A throughout the years (KS Bharat is second with 21). For the two four-day matches against Australia A, he is back with India A. At 30, the grind must be becoming easier. However, India A coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar anticipates that Abhimanyu will “stay very motivated to challenge himself,” as always.
“Abhimanyu Easwaran is a skilled athlete. He has played a lot of cricket at the highest level and captained Bengal. Kanitkar stated at a news conference prior to the opening four-day match in Lucknow that “there isn’t much need to say a lot to him because he knows how cricket is played.”
“Since he was already ready, speaking with him was not difficult. If possibilities don’t present themselves, he understands what to do. The fact that he is highly driven to push himself and do well is a plus. And perform well at the higher level if given the chance. He is playing well, is well-prepared, and has a really strong mind.
“His hitting is good. He has a good touch and is in good form. He is a really talented player who has performed well for India A on numerous occasions. Therefore, I believe he is now prepared for the challenge. In terms of batting and cricket management, he is currently in a strong position.
The city of Lucknow will bring back happy memories for Abhimanyu.
He has averaged 117.75 and scored a century in each of his three first-class appearances there, amassing 471 runs in five innings.
Abhimanyu opened the batting and scored 191 last year while representing Rest of India versus Mumbai in the Irani Cup in Lucknow. He struck an undefeated 127 in a Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Uttar Pradesh ten days later at the same venue. After that, he was called up to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy team.
It seems impossible that any Indian has spent this much time on the sidelines of Test cricket without being selected. However, now that India A is back in the starting lineup, Abhimanyu will be expected to play the same kind of composed, responsible, lengthy innings for which he has been known. He hopes that the Test matches against the West Indies at home next month are the ones he has been waiting for.
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